Barbed anchor

ABSTRACT

An anchor device is disclosed for securing a mounting accessory, such as a wire management device, to a panel or circuit board. The body of the anchor device includes a post having barbs protruding from the post. A hole or recess in the mounting accessory corresponds to the post and is engaged by the barbs to secure the mounting accessory onto the post.

BACKGROUND

This disclosure relates to the management of wires, cables and opticalfibers, which are often found in large numbers in industrial machinesand electronics assemblies to distribute electrical signals and/or lightpulses. The routing of these wires, cables or fibers may be critical toprevent harmful contact or damage, and therefore, these items areroutinely guided through the machines or electronics using routingaccessories or “anchors” which are secured at predetermined locations.

Anchors for wire management functions are generally well-known. Onecommon type of anchor has an adhesive applied to the bottom surface of amolded plastic mount, and the adhesive bottom of the mount ishand-pressed onto a panel in a selected location. Examples of theseattachments are cable tie mounts and wire management saddles such as thetype FTH and MWSB sold by Richco and the type ABM sold by Panduit. Onedisadvantage of the adhesive-backed mounts is that final placement ofthe mount is often inaccurate and inconsistent as the process oflocating the mount is done by hand. Other disadvantages of theadhesive-backed mounts include (i) the adhesive tends to dislodge overtime due to creep from sustained loads; (ii) the adhesive can be heatsensitive; (iii) the adhesive has limited shelf-life; (iv) the adhesivebond is sensitive to sheet metal surface cleanliness; and (v) therouting direction of the wires is permanently fixed since the anchorcannot be moved or rotated.

Other common types of mounts include integrally formed molded plasticbarbed posts that are pressed through the sheet metal, or anchors thatare attached using screws or rivets, such as the type WS-SE-A sold byRichco, and the type TM sold by Panduit. In each case, there is anundesirable protrusion on the opposite side of the sheet metal. Thisprotrusion can be visually unpleasing, or it may interfere with othercomponents of the machine.

Another type of self-clinching mount is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,981,683. However, this mount requires a special, uncommon rectangularpunch to create a square hole in the sheet metal. Further, the routingis permanently fixed in such a mount.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a top perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of aself-clinching anchor having a barbed post.

FIG. 1B is a top perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of aself-clinching anchor having a barbed post.

FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate a sequence for installing the anchors of FIG. 1Aor 1B.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view illustrating a third embodiment of ananchor having a barbed post.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a sequence for installing the anchor of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5A is a top perspective view illustrating a fourth embodiment of ananchor having a barbed post.

FIG. 5B is a bottom perspective view of the anchor shown in FIG. 5A.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate a sequence for installing the anchor of FIG. 5A.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate an alternative sequence for installing the anchorof FIG. 5A.

FIGS. 8A-8E are top perspective views of exemplary mounting accessoriesthat may be used with the disclosed anchors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several embodiments of an anchor device are described. The anchor isused to secure a mounting accessory, such as a wire management device,to a sheet such as a metal panel or electronic circuit board. The bodyof the anchor includes a head portion and a post portion extending fromthe head portion, with barbs protruding from a portion of the post. Asuitable mounting accessory includes a hole or recess sized incorrespondence with the post, such that the barbs engage the walls ofthe hole or recess and thereby secure the mounting accessory onto thepost.

In one preferred embodiment, the body of the anchor includes a headportion and a ring portion formed proximate to the head portion, whichis useful for self-clinching to the underside of a panel. In anotherembodiment, the ring portion includes teeth for broaching engagementwith the panel. Another embodiment includes an annular ring instead ofthe head and ring portions, useful for inserting from the top side of apanel, and then swaging or flaring the annular ring with a tool from theunderside of the panel. Although some dimensions are provided, they areintended to be illustrative only.

Referring now to FIG. 1A, a first embodiment of a self-clinching barbedanchor 10 is illustrated. The anchor 10 is preferably formed from solidlathe-turned carbon steel, stainless steel, brass or aluminum to be asolid body, and includes a post portion 12, a head portion 14, barbs 16disposed on the post portion, and a ring portion 18 also disposed on thepost portion. The barbs 16 are shown as three discrete ribs formedaround the circumference of the post portion 12 at a location on thepost distal from the head portion such that when the anchor 10 ismounted in a panel, the barbs are exposed above the panel for use incoupling with a mounting accessory. However, the barbs could take anynumber of physical forms to present one or more protrusions extendingfrom the post portion 12 in order to exert pressure against the walls ofa corresponding recess formed in the mounting accessory, for example.The ring portion 18 is shown as a single raised surface formed aroundthe circumference of the post portion 12 nearer the head portion 14, butin this embodiment, the ring portion is spaced apart from the head 14 bya groove 15. In another embodiment that is not self-clinching, the ringportion 18 may be adjacent to the head portion 14. Preferably, the post12 includes a chamfered portion 12 a at the top or free end of post.

Because there are a number of different types and sizes of mountingaccessories, such as wire management devices, including cable tie mountsand wire saddles, the anchor 10 can be provided in a variety ofconfigurations and sizes, and several different embodiments aredescribed herein. In general, however, the diameter of the post 12 willbe smaller than the opening in the sheet such that the post fits easilythrough the opening. In this embodiment, the ribs 16 and ring portion 18have approximately the same diameter, which is larger than the diameterof the post 12 but still slightly smaller than the diameter of theopening. The head 14 has a larger diameter than the opening byapproximately 15 to 20 percent. Typical panel openings range in sizefrom approximately 0.150 inches to 0.240 inches.

FIG. 1B shows an alternative embodiment for a self-clinching barbedanchor boa, which is nearly identical to the anchor 10 shown in FIG. 1A,except that the post 12 b is a dog point, i.e., a taller post. Thus, themounting accessories are provided with a deeper recess to accommodatethe dog point 12 b, for example, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8C.

In use, the metal sheet or panel 20 is turned upside down so that theunderside 19 of the panel is facing up and the top side 21 is facingdown, as depicted in FIG. 2A. An anvil 2 is securely positioned adjacentthe panel 20 underneath a hole 22 formed in the panel by punching ordrilling, for example. The post portion 12 of anchor 10 is inserted byhand into the hole 22, and the head portion 14 of the anchor 10 is thenpressed downward with a punch 4 toward the anvil 2 in a known manner.This causes the head portion 14 to displace the sheet metal materialaround the hole 22, forcing the displaced metal into the groove 15between the head and the ring portion 18. The applied pressing forceshould be consistent with typical values for minimum installation loadswith conventional self-clinching hardware, depending upon the size ofthe part, the installation procedure, the sheet material and the sheethole size. The head 14 is pressed until it becomes flush with thesurface of the panel 20, and the fully mounted anchor 10 is shown afterreversing the sheet again in FIG. 2B. At this point, the barbs 16 areexposed above the top surface 21 of the metal sheet such that a suitablemounting accessory can be pressed onto the anchor 10. The mountingaccessory may be any type of wire management device or other device thathas a corresponding recess or opening adapted to receive the barbedpost.

Lastly, the mounting accessory 30 is pressed onto the post 12, as shownin FIG. 2C. The mounting accessory 30 includes a recess 32 thatcorresponds to the post 12 and is slightly smaller than the barbs 16,such that when the device 30 is pressed onto the anchor 10, the barbs 16engage the inside walls 31 of recess 32 to hold the device in place onthe anchor. Alternatively, other mounting devices may simply have a holeor opening instead of a recess, although the same principles apply. See,for example, FIGS. 8B, 8D and 8E.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a third embodiment is illustrated as a barbedanchor 110 that is suitable for broaching into softer metals orplastics, such as printed circuit boards. The construction of anchor 110is similar to that of anchor 10, with post section 112 includingchamfered edges 112 a, head portion 114 and barbs 116. The difference isthat ring portion 118 includes teeth 117 extending radially from thering. The toothed ring 118 is slightly larger than the diameter of thehole, for example, by approximately 0.010 to 0.015 inches. Also, thering portion 118 is shown as immediately adjacent to the head 114 on theproximal portion of the post 112, rather than spaced apart from the headas with ring portion 18 and head 14 in FIG. 1A. However, in anotherembodiment, the toothed ring could be spaced apart from the head (notshown). Further, the ring portion 118 is taller in dimension w than thering portion 18, measuring approximately 0.060 inches.

In use, the metal sheet or panel 120 is once again turned upside down sothat the underside 119 of the panel is facing up and the top side 121 isfacing down, as shown in FIG. 4A. The anvil 2 is securely positionedadjacent the panel 120 underneath the hole 122. The anchor 10 isinserted into the hole 122 such that the barbs 116 are exposed above thetop side 121 and the toothed ring portion 116 is immediately adjacentthe hole on the bottom side 119. The head portion 114 is presseddownward with the punch 4 toward the anvil 2, as depicted in FIG. 4A.This causes the teeth 117 of the ring portion 118 to engage and deformthe material in walls 124 of the circuit board 120, and the fullyinstalled anchor 110 is shown in FIG. 4B. Finally, a mounting accessory30 having a recess 32 (or an opening) sized in mating correspondencewith the post 112 is pressed onto the anchor 110, and the barbs 116,which are slightly larger than the recess, engage the wall surfaces 31of the device 30 inside the recess 32, as shown in FIG. 4C. Note thatthis embodiment does not necessarily result in the head 114 being flushwith the bottom surface 119 of the circuit board 120.

A fourth embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5B. Like the priorembodiments, anchor 210 is formed to include a post portion 212 andbarbs 216, but instead of a larger head portion and a ring portion, thisembodiment has smaller head portion that is formed as an annular ring213 defining an opening 213 a. The annular ring 213 is really part ofthe post 212, but with a reduced diameter and a hollowed-out interiorthat allows the annulus to be flared or swaged in place. The diameter ofthe annular ring 213 is preferably approximately 80 percent of thediameter of the post 212.

The fourth embodiment may secured to a panel by flaring or swaging theannulus. The flaring process is illustrated in FIGS. 6A-6C, and theswaging process is illustrated in FIGS. 7A-7C.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the anchor 210 is hand-placed (upside down) intothe annular opening 203 of anvil 202. Next, the panel 220 is placedbetween the anvil 202 and press 204 such that the panel hole 223 isplaced over the annular ring 213 of the anchor 210. Note that panel hole223 has chamfered edges 224 formed by drilling or stamping, depending onthe type of material. Force is then applied by punch 204 such that theannular ring 213 is flared (bent outwardly) to clinch against thechamfered walls 224 of the opening 223, and the fully mounted anchor 210is shown (turned rightside up) in FIG. 6B. Finally, a mounting accessory30 having a recess 32 (or an opening) for mating correspondence withpost 212 is pushed onto the post such that barbs 216 clinch against thewalls 31 of the recess 32, securing the mounting accessory in place, asshown in FIG. 6C.

Referring now to FIG. 7A, as before, the anchor 210 is hand-placed(upside down) into the annular opening 303 of anvil 302. Next, the panel320 is placed between the anvil 302 and press 304 such that the panelhole 323 is placed over the annular ring 213 of the anchor 210. Force isapplied by the punch 304 such that the annular ring 213 is swaged toclinch against the underside 319 of the panel 320 adjacent to theopening 323, and the fully mounted anchor 310 shown (turned rightsideup) in FIG. 7B. Lastly, the mounting accessory 30 with recess 32 (or anopening) is pushed onto the post 212 such that barbs 216 clinch againstthe walls 31 of the recess, thereby securing the mounting accessory inplace, as shown in FIG. 7C.

Referring now to FIGS. 8A-8E, various types of mounting accessories areillustrated as secured onto a barbed post, as described above.

FIG. 8A shows a stand-off 130 having a snap-top 131 for receiving andsupporting another sheet (not shown). The other sheet has a number ofholes distributed across the sheet, and a corresponding number ofstand-offs 130 mounted on the first panel have their snap-tops 131pushed through the holes to hold the sheet in place. A recess 132 (shownin dashed lines) is formed in the stand-off 130 for receiving the anchor10 to secure the stand-off to the first panel. The barbs 16 engageagainst the walls of the recess 132.

FIG. 8B shows a cable clamp 230 having a p-shape, that is, it is bentback over itself to create a throughway 231 for holding wiring. Further,rather than a recess, the clamp 230 has an opening 232 that is definedby an annular portion 233. The clamp is pushed onto post 12 such thatthe barbs (not shows) clinch against the walls of the annular portion233.

FIG. 8C shows a wire guide 330 having a throughway 331 mounted on top ofa post 333 for routing wiring. A recess 332 (shown in dashed lines) isformed in the bottom of post 333 in order to mate with the barbed post12.

FIG. 8D shows a wire saddle 430 having a pair of arms 434 that define athroughway 431 for routing wires. The base 435 of the wire saddle 430includes an opening 432 that provides mating correspondence with thebarbed post 12 such that the barbs (not shown) clinch against the wallsof the base 435 in opening 432.

FIG. 8E shows a cable tie mount 530 having a pair of arms 534 each withopening 536. The base 535 of the cable tie mount 530 includes an opening532 that provides mating correspondence with barbed post 12 such thatthe barbs (not shown) clinch against the walls of the base 535 inopening 532. The arms 534 are used as anchors for cable ties, which arethreaded through the arms and looped around wiring that is routedbetween the arms.

In general, those skilled in the art to which this disclosure relateswill recognize that many changes in construction and materials as wellas widely differing embodiments will suggest themselves withoutdeparting from the spirit and essential characteristics of thisdisclosure. Accordingly, the disclosures and descriptions herein areintended to be illustrative, and not limiting, of the scope of theinvention, which is set forth in the claims.

1. An anchor for securing a mounting device to a panel via a hole formedin the panel, wherein the mounting device includes an opening,comprising: a body having a head portion, a post portion extending fromthe head portion, and barbs protruding from the post portion; whereinthe anchor is installed in the panel hole such that post portion extendsfrom the panel, and wherein the barbs engage the mounting device withinthe opening when the mounting device is pressed onto the post portion.2. The anchor of claim 1, the body further comprising: a ring portionformed on the post portion.
 3. The anchor of claim 2, wherein the ringportion is spaced apart from the head portion forming a groovetherebetween.
 4. The anchor of claim 3, wherein the head portion islarger than the hole and adapted to clinch against the panel adjacent tothe hole when installed, the post portion is smaller than the hole andextends through the hole when installed, and the barbs and ring portionare larger than the post portion and smaller than the hole.
 5. Theanchor of claim 2, wherein the ring portion is proximate to the headportion and includes teeth extending perpendicularly from the ringportion.
 6. The anchor of claim 5, wherein the head portion is largerthan the hole, the post portion is smaller than the hole, the barbs aresmaller than the hole and larger than the post portion, and the ringportion is larger than the hole and smaller than the head portion,wherein the teeth of the ring portion are adapted to engage with thehole when the anchor is installed.
 7. The anchor of claim 1, wherein thehead portion is an annular section of the post portion with an openingat a proximal end of the post portion, the head portion is slightlysmaller than the hole and adapted to clinch against the panel afterbeing flared or swaged, and the post portion is slightly larger than thehole.
 8. An anchor for securing a mounting device to a panel via a holein the panel, comprising: a head portion; a post portion extending fromthe head portion; and a plurality of barbs protruding from the postportion at a position distal from the head portion; wherein the barbssecurely engage an opening in the mounting device when the mountingdevice is pressed onto the anchor.
 9. The anchor of claim 8, wherein thehead portion is larger than the hole and, when the anchor is pressedinto the panel hole, the head portion displaces a portion of the paneladjacent to the hole to thereby clinch against the panel.
 10. The anchorof claim 8, wherein the head portion is smaller than the hole andincludes an annular ring having an annular opening that is bentbackwards when the anchor is placed into the panel hole therebyclinching against the panel.
 11. The anchor of claim 9, furthercomprising a ring portion disposed on the post portion.
 12. The anchorof claim 11, wherein the ring portion is spaced apart from the headportion forming a groove therebetween, and wherein the head portiondisplaces the portion of the panel into the groove when the anchor ispressed into the panel hole.
 13. The anchor of claim 11, wherein thering portion is adjacent to the head portion and includes teethextending outwardly from the post portion, wherein the teeth broach thepanel when the anchor is pressed into the panel hole.
 14. A system forsecuring a mounting device to a panel via a hole in the panel,comprising: an anchor having a head portion, a post portion extendingfrom the head portion, and a plurality of barbs protruding from the postportion; and a mounting device having an opening adapted to mate withthe post portion; wherein the anchor is pressed into the panel hole,then the mounting device is pressed onto the anchor, and the barbsengage the mounting device within its opening.